Simple Present/Present Progressive – Free Exercise

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Exercises

Choose between the simple present and the present progressive to complete the sentences.

  1. Oliver a book at the moment.at the moment → signal word for present progressive
  2. Caroline an SMS to her boyfriend every day.every day → signal word for simple present
  3. I usually at seven.usually → signal word for simple present
  4. Look, the kids to the zoo.Look!→ signal word for present progressive
  5. We every Tuesday.every … → signal word for simple present

Complete the sentences. Decide if you need to use the simple present or the present progressive.

  1. (he/wear/a hat/often)  , but
    (he/not/wear/a hat)   today.1st space: often → signal word for simple present
    2nd space: today → signal word for present progressive
  2. (we/have/breakfast/now)   although
    (we/not/have/breakfast/normally)   at this time.1st space: now → signal word for present progressive
    2nd space: normally → signal word for simple present
  3. (while/Grace/clean/the house)  ,
    (her kids/play/in the garden)  .both actions are taking place simultaneously, signal word while → present progressive
  4. I must hurry to the bus stop because (I/meet/Ian)   in an hour
    and (the bus/leave)   in ten minutes.1st space: agreed-upon appointment → present progressive
    2nd space: time determined by a schedule → simple present
  5. Listen! (you/hear/that noise)  ?Listen! is actually a signal word for present progressive, but hear is one of the words that we generally don't use in the progressive form.
  6. I grew up with dogs but now (I/have/a cat)  .now is actually a signal word for present progressive, but have, indicating possession, is one of the words that we don’t use in the progressive form